The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday lament on lack of access to education for children with disabilities.
During the two days workshop at the human right headquarter the commission navigate on the important on Strengthening National Mechanisms to Promote Access to Education of Children with Disabilities.
Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, OFR, ficmc, said That lack of access to education for children with disabilities has continued to be a developmental issue in this part of the region, attributable to myths and misconceptions about disabilities as well as stigmatisation, discrimination, physical and other barriers despite a good number of policies and laws that provide for right to education of children with disabilities.
He said, According to UNICEF, 95% of children with disabilities are out of school in developing countries and 90% may never gain access to basic education.
This is quite disturbing and challenging. It is therefore a wake-up call for all institutional mechanisms saddled with the responsibilities of providing basic education in the country.
The Commission has established to create an enabling environment for the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights of all citizens living in Nigeria, right to education .
He said, human right of every child including children with disabilities and must be delivered on rights-based approach, on equal basis without any form of discrimination which must be accessible and inclusive.
“Notably, education is a thematic area of focus in the Commission and disability inclusion is mainstreamed in all the Commission’s programmes and activities.
He stressed that,the essence of this workshop is to strengthen the National Mechanisms to promote access to education of children with disabilities as provided in the National Policy on Education, the Universal Basic Education Act 2004, Child Rights Act 2003.
the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition)Act 2018 as well as other international and regional laws that guarantee rights to free, quality and compulsory basic education.
He said recognizing that the right to education empowers citizens to be aware of other rights and claim those rights.
He also stated the role of education, saying that its the bedrock of any society.
“We urge the government to address the various challenges facing access to education of children with disabilities such as lack of specialized teachers, lack of awareness on the right to education of children with disabilities which the parents and the societies do not see any need in educating them.
“We emphasized on the lack of appropriate means of delivery, communication and devices,the need to strengthen these various mechanisms in place to guarantee the access to education of children with disabilities, while ensuring that no child, irrespective of disability is left behind He added “.
Mrs Ifeoma Lilian Nwakama, a Director in the Commission
highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for learning.
Nwakama, a Alumni of Commonwealth Scholarship commended the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK Alumni Community Engagement Fund (ACEF)
“We also extend our appreciation to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK Alumni Community Engagement Fund (ACEF) for their continual support to their Alumni in raising awareness on key developmental issues.
